Detecting crop diseases invisible to the naked eye could become a reality for British farmers in the near future thanks to the development of the innovative Fotenix™ Echo handheld imaging device.
Fotenix’s compact, palm-sized handheld device for diagnosing crop diseases uses light across the entire visible spectrum and beyond. The light flux makes it possible to identify stress in plants caused by pathogens.
chap-solutions.co.ukPhoto: chap-solutions.co.uk
Fotenix Echo successfully tested on wheat crops
Tests have shown that the Echo can successfully detect the presence of diseases in wheat. The main task that the developers set for themselves is to finalize the device for a full-fledged launch on the agricultural market and the use of FotenixTM Echo by breeders, agronomists and farmers.
“Conducting crop diagnostics will ensure early detection of diseases, mitigation of their impact on plant health, and informing farmers about the choice of technology and strategy for crop protection in order to maintain and increase yields.”
Charles Weiss – founder of Fotenix
Testing of the FotenixTM Echo and evaluation of the potential of the device was carried out on the basis of the agro-technological innovation center Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) with the support of Rothamsted Research.
The CHAP team, familiar with technology assessment, provided important insights into the device’s ergonomics and usability. The results show that the Echo has a high potential for a wide range of agricultural applications, expanding laboratory capabilities in the field in a cost-effective segment.
Adapted from chap-solutions.co.uk.
